ornamentals: a local expedition.

{Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, Belmont NC}

It's true that edibles hold my heart & therefore maintain their place at the forefront of my blog, but I certainly adore ornamentals as well. This weekend, C & I got out of the city to do a little exploring & for me to find a little inspiration from ornamentals to make it through a work week in my cubicle.

We made the short drive out to Belmont, just 20 miles from our home in Charlotte. After exiting the interstate, we enjoyed a scenic drive alongside Belmont Abbey College's beautiful campus and cruised through a quaint & cozy downtown Belmont, then on through a little Piedmont countryside to Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens.

The gardens have a special event called ZimSculpt going on right now, which features a sampling of Zimbabwe-inspired sculptures done by the most renowned artists in the world practicing Shona sculpture. The art was fantastic, sprinkled among a collection of trees, plants, & flowers that had me as giddy as a little girl.

While I enjoyed the outside of the gardens, the Orchid Conservatory was my favorite. This greenhouse was home to a variety of air plants, succulents, beautiful & rare orchids, and many other indoor plants. Complete with an indoor waterfall & reflection pond, the sights & smells of this little haven made the trip beyond worth it.

Here are some of my favorite snapshots from our trip.